Madison's Mountain Retreat

Madison's Mountain Retreat is a cabin property on Bells Line of Road at Kurrajong Heights, up on the ridgeline where the Hawkesbury drops away to the north. It is the kind of place families book for a weekend out of Sydney: self-contained cabins, a tennis court, a BBQ gazebo, and a resident population of alpacas that guests can feed, including baby alpacas in season. The cabins are reported as clean and spacious, and the property's scale means you are not stacked next to neighbours.

Visitors report that dogs are accepted at AUD 20 per pet per night plus a AUD 50 deposit per stay, dogs only, with service animals exempt. The fee is modest by stay standards, which fits the property's unpretentious setup. Confirm the pet arrangement when you book, since the deposit structure suggests the retreat wants to know a dog is coming rather than discovering it at check-in.

The vibe

The retreat runs at a slower pace than the Blue Mountains tourist strips to the south. Days here are about feeding alpacas in the morning, a hit of tennis before lunch, and long dinners under the gazebo. Kurrajong Heights itself is a quiet ridge village with orchards and lookouts, well positioned for drives along Bells Line of Road without the Leura traffic.

Getting there and parking

1880 Bells Line of Road is roughly 15 minutes north of Richmond along the ridge road, and about an hour and a half from Sydney by car. Parking is at your cabin door, which matters when you are hauling dog gear and groceries up from the city.

Close by with the dogs

Down the hill, Pugh's Lagoon Walking Track at Richmond is an easy waterside leg-stretcher on the way in or out, and The National Hotel in Richmond handles a solid pub lunch. If you want to extend the weekend, Richmond Caravan & Cabin Park is a budget alternative in the same corridor.

See more dog friendly stays across NSW at the NSW dog friendly stays guide.